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buying real estate: Average Family Debt Rises To $96,000 in 2009 - 02/18/10 05:47 PM
A Canadian study on family finances says the average household debt has climbed to $96,000 in 2009.
The number of mortgage payments that were at least 90 days late was up 50 per cent compared with 2008. There was also a 40 per cent increase in the number of credit card holders who were at least three months behind in their payments.
The finance minister has announced changes to the home buying process in an attempt to bring this personal debt down. With low interest rates, people have been over extending themselves to get into the housing market. This has left … (4 comments)
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buying real estate: McGuinty rejects public hearings on HST; expects new tax to be election issue - 11/18/09 04:48 PM
There's no need for the Ontario government to hold public hearings on its plan to harmonize the provincial sales tax with the GST next July, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Wednesday, adding that voters can pass judgment on the issue in the 2011 provincial election.
Basically, McGuinty is telling the public he plans to ram this tax down your throat whether you like it or not and it doesn't matter what you think about it either because he's not interested in listening. He goes on to belittle the public by stating that the topic can be discussed at election time in 2011. … (0 comments)
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buying real estate: 10 best home upgrades for resale - 10/15/09 05:34 PM
When people decide to sell their home, often they are uncertain if they should update their home. If so, what upgrades would bring the greatest return and most importantly, how much money should be spent on those upgrades. Upgrading before you sell can get out of hand, so set a budget and stick to it or you won’t be able to get that money back on the sale of the home. Consider giving your home any of these 10 upgrades when looking to sell.
If you're preparing your home for sale, there are certain improvements that are definitely worth their cost … (7 comments)
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buying real estate: October Real Estate Sales Stats - 10/15/09 02:40 PM
Real estate statistics for October remain strong and show we are blasting out of the recession. Toronto, Oakville, Milton, Burlington and Hamilton markets are all showing significant increases in both units sold and average prices. Also, houses are staying on the market for shorter periods of time and sellers are getting close to their asking prices. Looking at the rate of which houses are selling, it is clear the market has now balanced and whether you are a seller or a buyer, now is a great time to get into real estate.
Toronto Real Estate Board - Units sold are … (0 comments)
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buying real estate: Home Inspection Series - Part 8: Questions to ask prospective inspectors - 10/08/09 03:42 PM
Now that you have bought a home and are in need of an inspection, how do you decide on who you are going to hire? Here is a list of questions that should be asked before you decide on your home inspector. You want to do everything you can to ensure you hire the best person for the job. A person that you are confident will be able to identify all of the deficiencies in the home so you have a clear picture of the condition of your home.
How long have you been conducting home inspections?
Someone may tell … (1 comments)
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buying real estate: Home Inspection Series - Part 5: Identify areas to increase the value of a home - 10/04/09 04:15 PM
It is not the intended purpose of a home inspection, but the inspection might also give you some insight into potential opportunities for repairs and renovations that will not only make your home more pleasant to live in, but may also increase its value. With the federal government's new Home Renovation Tax Credit, you may have financial incentive to undertake some of these projects once you become a homeowner.
Unveiled Jan. 27, 2009 in the federal budget, the HRTC will provide Canadians up to $1,350 in savings for money spent on home renovations through a temporary 15% income tax credit … (2 comments)
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buying real estate: September Real Estate Sales Stats - 09/30/09 10:29 PM
Real estate statistics for September prove we continue heading in a positive direction. All numbers from Toronto to Hamilton are up in both units sold and average sale prices.
Toronto Real Estate Board - Units sold are up 27% and average prices are up 6%.
Hamilton/Burlington Board - Units sold are up 16% and average prices up 2.7%
Oakville/Milton Board - Units sold are up 21% and average prices are up 3%
Burlington Market - Units sold are up 13% and average prices are up 5%
Oakville Market - Units sold are up 35% and average prices are up 14%
… (2 comments)
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buying real estate: www.century21.ca now Canada's leading real estate website - 09/28/09 10:21 PM
With over 95% of people beginning their real estate search online, shouldn’t the brokerage you choose to sell your home give you maximum internet exposure?
Numbers were recently released at the CENTURY 21 Canada conference in Vancouver that revealed www.century21.ca is now the leading real estate brand web site in Canada, oustripping both the REMAX and Royal Lepage brand web sites, based on number of unique visitors. The CENTURY 21 Canada web site is now second only to the Canadian Real Estate Association's www.realtor.ca site. CENTURY 21 Canada CEO Don Lawby praised the members of the CENTURY 21 Canada system for … (1 comments)
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buying real estate: Mortgage Rates Fall Again! - 09/12/09 08:09 AM
Mortgage rates have eased slightly for both the fixed rates & the variable rate mortgages.
The 5 year fixed rate has finally come back down below 4% to 3.99%. The variable has also moved down to prime (2.25%) plus .15% on a 3 year term & prime plus .20% on a 5 year term. The variable seems to be the way to go, as the economists are now predicting that the Bank of Canada rate will not move until 2011. Even though, the recession is over, they are saying that the recovery will be slow and gradual which will not stimulate inflation.
… (0 comments)
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buying real estate: Home Inspection Series - Part 4: Finding the Right Guy For The Job - 08/22/09 05:30 PM
Since anyone with a clipboard and some business cards can call themselves a home inspector, it is important to find one who is most qualified to accurately assess the various elements of a home. It is important to do your research so you can ensure the inspector you choose is the most qualified to do the best job.
First-time homebuyers should go to any chapter of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors when looking for a reputable inspector. It is there that you can check on the inspectors to ensure they have some form of training. Be careful … (2 comments)
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buying real estate: Home Inspection Series - Part 3: Accompany the Inspector - 08/16/09 09:24 AM
It is essential for all buyers to accompany the home inspector throughout the house. "When the client attends the home inspection, our inspector will physically show the client both the areas of concern and the benefits of the home construction. The client has a much better understanding of the quality of the home and a far greater and deeper understanding of what they're about to get into", according to George Pappas, president of Pappas Home Inspections Inc.
As you walk through with the inspector, you will see first-hand the condition of each key component of the house and property so … (3 comments)
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buying real estate: Canadian Home Sales, and Prices Jump in June - 07/15/09 04:23 PM
Sales of homes in Canada jumped 31.5 percent in the second quarter from the first and saw their first year-over-year quarterly increase since before the peak of the financial crisis, the Canadian Real Estate Association said on Tuesday. The report is the latest piece of evidence showing that consumers are venturing back into the home market, encouraged by low mortgage rates and signs that the worst of the recession is over. A total of 41,304 homes changed hands in the month of June.
Home sales totaled 147,351 units in the second quarter of 2009, up 1.4 per cent from … (0 comments)
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buying real estate: Open House – Sunday July 19th 2:00pm – 4:00pm - 07/09/09 02:05 PM
5342 Cachet Crescent, Burlington, Ontario, L7L 7N6 - $489,900
One of a Kind Family Home on Quiet Crescent in the Orchard-North East Burlington with Fully Finished 1 Bedroom Apartment in Walkout Basement,Upgrades include: Hardwood Floors,Oak Stairs,High Ceilings, Upgraded Maple Kitchen with High Cabinetry, Island & walkout to Huge 2nd level Deck, Family Room with Vault Ceilings, Huge Windows & Fireplace, Main Floor Laundry, Interior Access to Double Garage, Spacious Bedrooms, Master with 5 piece Ensuite- His & Hers Vanity- Soaker Tub- Separate Shower and Walkin Closet, Stunning Sun Filled Suite in Lower Level with Full Kitchen, 4 piece Bathroom, … (0 comments)
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buying real estate: Open House - Sunday June 28th - 2:00pm - 4:00pm - 06/26/09 02:57 PM
5342 Cachet Crescent, Burlington, Ontario, L7L 7N6 - $489,900
One of a Kind Family Home on Quiet Crescent in the Orchard-North East Burlington with Fully Finished 1 Bedroom Apartment in Walkout Basement,Upgrades include: Hardwood Floors,Oak Stairs,High Ceilings, Upgraded Maple Kitchen with High Cabinetry, Island & walkout to Huge 2nd level Deck, Family Room with Vault Ceilings, Huge Windows & Fireplace, Main Floor Laundry, Interior Access to Double Garage, Spacious Bedrooms, Master with 5 piece Ensuite- His & Hers Vanity- Soaker Tub- Separate Shower and Walkin Closet, Stunning Sun Filled Suite in Lower Level with Full Kitchen, 4 piece Bathroom, Bedroom … (1 comments)
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buying real estate: Don't be fooled by national averages, look locally! - 06/22/09 11:57 AM
During these first days of summer, as economists are telling us that the worst of the recession may be over, Canadians are wondering how the values of their largest financial assets — their homes — are holding up. Media reports of real estate statistics have left many Canadian homeowners rightfully confused. The problem is that these statistics are usually based on averages of city, provincial and national markets. Such averages are pretty much irrelevant to what’s really happening in specific neighbourhoods. Our analysis suggests that Canadian homeowners should avoid relying on city, provincial or national averages to value their homes. Instead, … (0 comments)
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buying real estate: SOLD! - 06/19/09 01:48 PM
Just put up the SOLD stickers on this great property in Burlington, Ontario. If you are thinking about getting some SOLD stickers put up on your property, all you have to do is give me a call!
LIST WITH ME AND GET HOME STAGING FOR FREE!!!
As part of my full service listing package to my clients, I offer free home staging as a bonus for anyone who decides to use my real estate services to list their house.
Other benefits include:
* Maximum front page exposure on www.seankavanagh.ca and www.seansells.ca websites
* Regular blog posts promoting the property
… (0 comments)
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buying real estate: Home Buyers Now Going Online First - 06/18/09 12:13 PM
Home buyers are now twice as likely to use online sources than print sources to find information about open houses they are interested in.
A study found that 62% of home buyers use or plan to use online sites to find open houses, compared with 53% who use/plan to use information from real estate agents, 36% who use/plan to use neighborhood signs and less than one-third (31%), who use/plan to use print sources, including newspapers and local flyers.
The study also found that though many home buyers rely upon a range of different sources to gather information about open houses, 41% … (1 comments)
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buying real estate: Resale housing market continues to recover - 06/03/09 07:47 AM
Home sales activity increased for the third time in as many months, according to statistics released by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). The national average price also rose again, to within short reach of the record levels set a year ago.
Sales activity climbed 11.2 per cent in April 2009 compared to the previous month. This is the largest month-to-month increase in activity in more than five years. Sales activity also reached its highest level in seven months, with 34,838 units trading hands nationally via the MLS.
Price adjustments, access to money and a surge in consumer confidence have … (0 comments)
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buying real estate: A Checklist: Buyers Beware! - 06/02/09 09:44 PM
One of the biggest mistakes a first time buyer, or any buyer for that matter, can make when purchasing a home, is to get too emotionally involved in the home before proper research has been conducted on the property and surrounding area. Here is a checklist of items to be considered before you put pen to paper on an agreement of purchase and sale.
1) Houses older than 40 years may have aluminum, or even worse, knob and tube, wiring. Insurance companies may not insure homes that contain certain types of wiring. If you really love the house, be sure to … (1 comments)
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buying real estate: 7 things you need to know before hiring your contractor - 06/02/09 02:27 PM
Thinking of doing a home renovation? Here are seven things you need to know before hiring your contractor:
1. Get at least three references for the contractor you think you want to hire and thoroughly check all of them.
2. Ask for photos of previous jobs to ensure the workmanship. If you are asking for a specific job to be done, ask for photos of similar jobs so you know what you can expect.
3. Ask him about the last project he worked on and request a visit to speak with the homeowners.
4. Ensure that you have a signed contract … (0 comments)
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Sean Kavanagh
Burlington,
ON
More about me…
Century 21 Miller
Office Phone: (905) 845-9180
Cell Phone: (905) 220-9198
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